Women's International Association of Aeronautics (WIAA) Wings (pre WASPs)

[Barbara Schultz]

I did an article on Beth McQueen for the American Aviation Historical Society Journal in 2013.  This is a trophy given by the WIAA.  Sculptor - Baroness Koalckreuth.  States "Wings Around the World for Peace.  WIAA 1935.

[manayunkman]

On 1/1/2022 at 11:45 AM, Barbara Schultz said:

I did an article on Beth McQueen for the American Aviation Historical Society Journal in 2013.  This is a trophy given by the WIAA.  Scultor - Baroness Koalckreuth.  States "Wings Around the World for Peace.  WIAA 1935.

 

Amazing addition to the thread!

 

Welcome to the forum.

[rathbonemuseum.com]

That is a great addition @Barbara Schultz. What was the article? Can you post as well? These "golden age" groups, ephemera and related are rare and hard to research. Thanks.

[Bluehawk]

VERY nicely made good looking wing... 

[Barbara Schultz]

I'll see what I can do!  Thanks for asking.

[rathbonemuseum.com]

A scan of the Internet brought some more photographic examples of WIAA membership pins and badges. 

 

1. From the archives from FlyingTigerAntiques.com comes this gold badge attributed to the ADM Richard Byrd estate, which probably means it belonged to Mrs. Richard Byrd, or Marie Donaldson (nee Ames) Byrd. Interesting it has an aqua and red stone with unknown significance, though they do seem to mimic navigation lights. The badge is hallmarked ALLEN which probably refers to the Los Angeles based manufacturer, T. V. Allen (search this forum for more information on T. V. Allen). This is unusual as most badges are silver, probably indicating Mrs. Byrd was a member/founder/donor of some significance.

 

 

2. Also from the Flying Tiger archives is this member badge turned into a bracelet, numbered 56 and engraved to Mrs. Emory Bronte, or Martha Edwina (nee Griffith) Bronte. CDR Bronte was part of a team of aviators that were the first private pilots to fly from the mainland to Hawaii. Badge also hallmarked ALLEN.

 

 

3. An earlier numbered badge, also from Flying Tiger Antiques archive, without biographical attribution. Also made by ALLEN.

 

 

 

4. A WIAA lapel pin in the National Air and Space museum collection.

 

 

 

 

[pfrost]

This was a pretty good thread back in the day for some history of these wings. WIAA, Women Flyers of America, the WAR, Betsy Ross Flyers, 99's, etc, formed a series of umbrella "flying clubs" that started in the years just after WWI and (as in the case of the 99's), are still active.

 

For some reason, the WASP program, which involved approximately 1,200 women trained to fly during WWII, gets most of the attention, but in many ways, they were standing on the shoulders of their older sisters (moms, girlfriends, etc). Aviation pioneers like Pancho Barns, Nancy Love, Amelia Earhart, and Jacki Cochran were all involved in these early flying groups, like the WIAA.  Even before the WASPs, the ACFC, WAFS and WFTD were the first to use women pilots in a paramilitary role.  Careful reading will show that most of the early women aviatrices had foreseen the formation of groups like the WASPs as early as the 20's and 30's.

 

I would say that the WIAA, Women Flyers of America and 99s are probably the most common (if any of these can be considered common).  These women pilots contributed to flying in many ways.